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How Sweet It Is! AIB Annual Symposium & Awards Program
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October 1-3, 2009 in Hershey, Pennsylvania
 Considered one of the "cleanest and greenest" places, Hershey, Pennsylvania will play host to this year's America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program.
What began as a chocolate town has become a year-round, world-class resort destination with outstanding heritage preservation, beautiful gardens and landscapes, community pride, and unparalleled environmental awarness.
This year's program features several outstanding educational sessions, hands-on learning tours, and lots of opportunities to learn from your peers!
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Community Champion Award Deadline Nearing
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Summer, Judges, and Stars on a Map |
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It is mid-August. The heat of summer has finally
arrived in the Upper Midwest. It has been
languishing in unexpected places further west this year. We've been enjoying
cooler temperatures and more frequent rain than normal up until the last week
or so. Now, it's hot and a little drier!
By now, the cities participating in this year's America in
Bloom contest edition have all been evaluated by their judging teams. The final
reports are being written. The scores are being tallied.
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Dessert in the Garden Fundraising Idea
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 The North Manchester (Indiana) AIB Committee recently held a successful fundraising event, Dessert in the Garden. The backyard event,
hosted by Todd and Linda Richards, featured over 50 dessert selections and raised $1,000. In addition to the sweet treats, the event featured live music, art, and a silent auction. Iterested in using this idea for a fundraiser in you community? Contact Christa Kolster-Frye for more information. |
City Council Gets School Involved in Growing Trees For Community Use
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 The Mansfield (Texas) City Council has agreed to a joint partnership with the local career tech academy to jointly create a tree nursery to supply trees for city and
school projects.
Students would maintain the farm as part of a new
forestry curriculum to start this month. The farm would start with 500 to 700 saplings and seedlings on a half-acre,
producing low-cost trees that the city and district can use. Read more about the partnership.
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Memorial Gardens
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| By Leonard Perry, past AIB Judge
 Memorial or remembrance gardens are an ideal way to keep alive the memory of those deceased, whether they are family, friends, or even pets. They are particularly appropriate if the deceased had some interest in gardening. Memorial gardens serve to rekindle happy memories, not just to grieve. My mother was fond of herbs, so I keep a small herb garden in her memory. Others keep alive memories of friends through plants given to them by that person. Creating memorial gardens promotes healing. Maintaining them is therapeutic. The gardens not only keep alive their memories, but also provide beauty to those who see them even if they didn't know whom you are remembering.
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| Have a Story or Photos to Share? |
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We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, LKunkle@ofa.org. | |
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